Artist Connie Townsend

Welcome to The Scoop, your weekly insider's guide to all things dog. Every week, we will share stuff we like, whether it's a cool product or a designer we want to introduce or a new store opening. Just random things we dig and hope you dig, too!

We stumbled upon the whimsical artwork of Connie Townsend after a reader sent us this image to the left, featuring none other than a pug perusing the pages of CityDog Magazine. We were thrilled, of course, and wanted to find out more.

After checking out her website, it's no surprise that Ms. Townsend is best known for her playful depictions of dogs riding motorcycles and driving cars (see above). However, she also paints pet portraits on commission that are just as whimsical and she admits her favorite response to her work is "your paintings make me smile." Indeed, they do!

Ms. Townsend resides in Flagstaff, Ariz. with her dog Maggie, but for Seattle area folks, you can see her artwork on display at the Howard/Mandville Gallery in Kirkland, Wash.

You can also contact the gallery about a pet portrait of your own, should you be interested (and I think you will be after checking out more of her work below). I certainly am!